Improvement in grain-meters



2 Sheets--Sheef1. HENRY POOLEY, T. ROBERTS, & E. OBRIEN.

Improvement in Grain Meters. Nil-125,612. PatentedAprH9,1872

FIGURE 2 FIGURE 1.

2L in ventors 1 XQM: M enw WM Rx m1 UNITED STATES PATENT FFIOE.

HENRY POOLEY, THOMAS ROBERTS, AND EUGENE OBRIEN, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND,ASSIGNORS TO HENRY POOLEY 8t SON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,612, dated April 9,1872.

SPECIFICATION Specification describing an Improved Automatic Machine forW eighing and Registerin g Grain and other Substances, invented by HENRYPooLnY and THonAs Ronnnrs and EUGENE OBRIEN, all of Liverpool, in thecounty of Lancaster, in that part of the United Kingdom of Great Britainand Ireland called England.

Our invention relates to a simple and improved self-regulating, feeding,discharging, and registering beam-scale for weighing grain and othersubstances; and consists of a balance-beam with arms of equal length,1nounted on a frame or stand. To one end of the balance-beam issuspended a scale or tray for carrying ordinary standard weights, and onthe other end of the balance-beam is suspended a box-scale, divided intotwo equal parts by avertical diaphragm; and the bottom of eachcompartment is formed hopper-shaped, having three inclined and onevertical side, which latter is formed by the side of the diaphragm,which divides the box-scale into two equal chambers. The lower end ofthe box-scale is fitted with a double vibrating valve or bottom in onepiece, jointed to, or having its axis in line with, the lower edge ofthe diaphragm. The chambers on each side of the diaphragm are filled andemptied alternately, as will be hereinafter described.

In order that this invention and its parts and gear may be moredistinctly seen and understood, we refer to the accompanying two sheetsof drawing, which illustrate and explain our invention, like letters andfigures being used to denote similar parts throughout the various views.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of a machine constructedaccording to our invention, and is drawn to a scale of three-quarters ofan inch to the foot. Fig. 2,'Sheet 1, is an end elevation of the same.Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a sectional side elevation of the box-scale, drawnto the scale of three-quarters of an inch to the foot. Fig. 4, Sheet 2,is a sectional end elevation of the box-scale.

It will be seen upon reference that a machine constructed according toour invention consists of a balance beam or lever, A, which has itsfulcrum. A at the center and arms of equal length, A and A and ismounted on a frame, B, by pivots or centers, at its fulcrum A To onearm, A of the lever is suspended a rod, 0, carrying a tray or scale, 0and weights 0 To the other arm A of the balance-beam is suspended abox-scale, D, divided into two equal compartments, D and D by a verticaldiaphragm, E, and the bottom of each compartment is formed hoppershaped. The lower end of the scale-box is fitted with a double vibratingvalve or bottom, F, formed in one piece, and jointed to, and having itsaxis in line with, the diaphragm E, dividing the compartments 1) and DThis bottom F is formed with two inclined planes, F and F on its uppersurface, diverging from the center at such an angle that when one side,F is brought to a horizontal position it closes or forms the bottom ofthe compartment D and the other side, F, of the vibrating valve orbottom is deflected, so as to be clear of the compartment D and allowsthe grain or other substance being weighed to escape from thecompartment D the same action taking place with the compartment D whenthe vibrating valve or bottom moves and closes the compartment 1). Thesides F and F of the vibrating valve or bottom F, when in a horizontalposition, are locked, when so placed, by a quadrant, G, which has cut onits upper surface two notches, and is held in position by a lever, H,which has a stop-piece taking into the notches on the quadrant G, andthus holding the vibrating valve or bottom in position, according to thecompartmenhl) or D which is closed. The end of the lever H at H takesonto or rests on a bracket, I, fitted to one of the legs of the frame13. Suspended from the balance beam, and having its center directly overthe diaphragm of the scale-box, is an oscillating or rocking spout, J,which is actuated by a rod and lever, K, attached to one side of thevibrating valve or bottom of the box-scale, and so arranged that thevibrating valve or bottom moves or cants the spout J from side to side,according to that compartment of the box-scale which is being fed. Overthe oscillating or rocking spout J, and supported by means of a bracketfrom the frame B, is astationary feedchute L, having a variable andadjustable cut off, M, worked by the lever M and sliding balance-weightM and attached to the bal ance-beam A by means of the link N. O is abracket, which supports I,'a registering-dial,

which is worked or actuated by the bell-crank lever Q, the link R, andthe balance-weight S, the bell-crank lever being actuated by a catch onthe suspending-rod C at T. The automatic actions of the machine may bethus enumerated. In the case of weighing, for instance, centals ofgrain, the grain to be weighed is led by a spout, or funnel into thestationary feed-chute L, and flows from thence into the oscillating orrocking spout J, which feeds into the compartment D (See Fig. 2, Sheet1.) When that compartment is filled with grain to the Weight of, say,nine-tenths of the amountrequired, the weight of grain partiallyovercomes the weights on the scale or tray 0 The balance-beam A isdeflected and the lever at M released, allowing the adjustable cut-oft Mto slide down the mouth of the feed-chute L and partially cut off orreduce the feed. When the whole weight or remaining tenth has been fedinto the compartment D the scale-box is further depressed, entirelyovercoming the weights on the tray or scale 0 and as it is depressed itbrings the end of the lever H at H onto the bracket I. The lever is thusraised and releases the quadrant G attached to the vibrating valve orbottom, thus allowing the bottom 11 to open and the grain to escape fromthe compartment D Simultaneously the bottom F works the rod and lever K,which cants the oscillating or rocking spout over, so that the feed isled into the compartment D In the act of opening, the side F of thebottom is depressed and the side F of thebottom raised and brought intoa horizontal position, closing the compartment D and is then heldv inplace by the lever H and the quadrant G as the box-scale rises, the sameaction taking, place consecutively. As the box-scale rises and the trayor scale 0 with its weights, comes down, the catch-piece at T acts onthe lever Q, and by the connected gear each load is indicated on thecounter P. The sliding balance-weight M? on the lever M is used toadjust the cut-off M and regulate the number of loads per minuterequired to pass through the machine.

' Having now described the nature and object of this our jointinvention, we would have it understood that we make no special claim forcontinuously and automatically weighing grain, as there are severalmachines known which effect this object; but

What we claim as new, and desire to have secured to us by Letters Patentas joint inventors, isr The double-chambered box-scale D, constructed asdescribed, and suspended on a beam-balance, A, carrying counter-weightsO the double vibrating valve or bottom F, and the construction andarrangement of the selfacting releasing and locking gear, composed ofthe quadrant G and the lever H, with their connected parts, and theoscillating or rocking spout J actuated, by the rod and lever K,'for

the purposes described and set forth; and the peculiar arrangement ofthe several self-actin g parts used for regulating and cutting 011' thefeed, consisting of the chute L, cut-oil- M, and lever M and adjustableweight M, and the arrangement of hanging tray or scale C, sus pendedfrom the balance-beam A, so arranged that any standard weight, (3 may beused; and the registering gear, consisting of the counter P and itsconnections, actuated by the rod 0; the whole constituting an automaticmachine for weighingand registering grain and other substances,substantially in the manner described and set forth in the beforegoin gspecification.

In witness whereof we, the said HENRY PooLEY and THOMAS ROBERTS andEUGENE OBRIEN, have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals thisseventh day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eighthundred and seventy-one.

HENRY POOLEY. L. s. THOMAS RoBERTs. L. s. EUGENE OBRIEN. 1,. s.

